2023 has greeted us with some pretty nice weather so far.
This has brought excellent inshore fishing along the Big Bend.
The big cold front seems like a year ago. Ah, 2022 is two weeks ago. Fish piled up in the river, NW winds pushed the water so far even kayakers had trouble reaching their favorite spots.
With daytime highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s, lows have reached and are holding that magic number of 65 degrees.
Main channel creeks and tributaries up and down our beloved area are ideal for good size and numbers of redfish. Now is a perfect time to take advantage. That is if you are not into the woods or dread an early boat ride.
When you go, bring a pair of rods. Jig tipped with your favorite soft plastic swimbait, a spoon and topwater. In January you say? I say yes.
Oyster bars are key for blacks. They are a little nervous in the early morning before it warms up. When the sun comes up at ten o’clock, it’s like you push a button. If the tide is right, hold on!
During the weekend we won the award. All the other casts were a hen bump at the top. It didn’t matter the bait, the color was key. White, Orange, Mullet. Either or a combination caught the attention of Mr. Reds.
Don’t assume that when the bite ends, the fish won’t. change it Spoon, jig or hard bait.
Trout was the word. Now they have dispersed with the warming trend. We sailed over 175 in just 4 hours. Half were goalkeepers. I have seen this scenario repeat itself up and down where the river forks. Flexed wrists, happy faces, a great way to introduce kids to the sport. Although it will hurt you.
Jig, shrimp, pop cork, cast, reel fish. Now you have to work for them if it’s the seat trout you’re after. The rocky or oyster bottom of the main channel is a good place to start. Hard or soft baits.
If you prefer fresh water, that’s just as well.
Crappies are being caught big in Talquin and Seminole lakes. The fish run between 12 and 14 inches respectively.
Trolling machines on either lake along with live or bright minnows worked on keyholes will also make a limit.
Offshore guys can no longer chase gag grouper. Red grouper is, however, seasonal. So are spearfish. One of the best tastings out there in my opinion.
The forecast for the weekend is more than favorable for fishing. It’s still chilly in the mornings and during this boat trip, so pack layers. When the sun comes up you’ll thank me.
Until next week, stay safe and have fun and ALWAYS wear your life jacket while boating.
APPALACHEE BAY
Otto Hough (Facebook @myhometownfishing) says, “Big Bend’s classic rollercoaster fishing weather has been visiting the Big Bend, from the freezing cold of Christmas, the warm New Year’s weekend followed by a record high on past Tuesday with nippy mornings ahead of this three-day stretch, it’s a definite rollercoaster ride for trout.One thing is for sure, the warming trend of the last five days or so has pushed the thin temperatures ten degrees or more made things happen offshore. This increase in water temperature caused trout and reds to venture into river and creek mouths in fun feeding mode. This has especially been the case around the Aucilla and Econfina Rivers On the East River, bar cuts held good numbers of slot trout, as did some of the St. Marks bars near Big Pass.
With the full moon approaching, early morning winter low tides along the Big Bend coast will be in the negative column just after sunrise. If you target trout and reds early, be aware that there will be little or no water in the creeks, and the rivers will become mere rivets as there will be a steady northerly wind pushing the water for a long time. Remember that fish need water, so these deep holes and cuts become their refuges during these periods of extreme low tides. As the tide turns on Friday, expect a slow rise given the expected northerly wind. A sort of fishing bonus with the weekend rising tides, there is a significant solunar channel that follows these midday rising tides. If you’re targeting trout, take the time to target darker, hard-bottom creek mouths. These areas will warm up a few degrees at noon to the taste of the trout. However, not all of the trout will be in the stream and river mouths, as there are still plenty of cutthroat trout in the lower end of each of the Big Bend rivers. Those brook trout, reds and winter sheep will devour an offering from a lively shrimp on a Carolina rig or a head. With the preponderance of fins on the river, it is a good time to take the children or grandchildren fishing in one of the rivers to get them hooked on fishing.
Last weekend, being a long New Year’s holiday with lots of heat, the landings and waterways were packed. If I were to hazard a guess, plan to see more than a few boats plying the waters on Saturday and Sunday with people coming out to enjoy the expected sunny days. Practice boating safety and boating etiquette when on the rivers. Don’t drive slowly past people who are anchored fishing a hole, bend or cut. And again, use a self-inflating PFD. Boat safely, only FISH!!
ISLAND OF SANT JORDI
Capt. Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, “Our year-end weekend gift from the weather gods is a great forecast for the weekend with seas forecast at no more than 2 feet , winds of 10 to 15 knots and sunny skies with temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees.
Tides in the Cut this weekend are also favorable for fishing, with mid-morning lows at – 0.6 feet and afternoon highs of 1.1 feet. This is almost too good to be true in early January, so as always, double check the conditions before you leave home.
In the bay, Capt. Dan Fortunas (850 980 0101) is finding good Sheepshead and Black Drum that would love to be offered some fresh shrimp around both the Cut rocks and the SGI Bridge piers.
Current FCW regulations are Sheepshead must be 12″ with an eight-fish limit, while Black Drum has a 14″ to 24″ slot with a fish over 24″ and a five-fish limit. Capt. Dan says that if a black drum’s stripes are fading, you can plan that it’s an older fish and probably full of parasites, so it’s best to release it.
We don’t really have much on the deep sea fishing this week with the biggest news being that the Gag Grouper season is closed and the Red Grouper season is open.
Tip of the Week: Captain Clint Taylor (850 370 6631) reminds you that if the air is warm and the water is cold, you have an excellent chance of encountering sea fog this time of year. year, which can quickly ruin your day. With modern GPS units, navigation isn’t much of a problem, but other traffic and floating surprises are a major problem, so GET DOWN and duplicate the lookouts – the boat you save could be yours!
BIG BEND KAYAK REPORT
Salt Strong Coach Matt Lanier ([email protected]) tells us, “I hope everyone had a great New Year! The cold temperatures and strong winds have subsided a bit and are much more manageable, which makes for some great fishing to fit this warming temperature trend, some solid fish caught this past week!
With the harsh cold front we just experienced, there was a sad number of fish kills that couldn’t handle the temperatures. Unfortunately, larger fish, such as cutthroat trout, are the most affected, as the smaller ones remain in numbers and retreat to deeper water.
But that said, the fish that are still there are hungrier than ever as they try to recoup the calories they lost while trying to stay warm during the cold conditions. So finding the 90/10 zone is very important!
Trout that are educated are still in their usual spots around structure and ledges and depth changes. Be sure to use heads heavy enough to get down into the deepest part of the water column, where these fish are found; and now that we are in the colder part of the year, exposed headers will be optimal as there is less grass to hang on them.
It can often be helpful to downsize your bait during the colder months, going for a smaller presentation, to attract a bite from these more lethargic fish. Fish have a slower metabolism in the winter and won’t use calories to chase bait like they will in the warmer months. So fishing smaller baits, on the bottom, is a great winter tactic.
With the warming trend, redfish can still be found roaming the flats in some of these late fall habits, cruising creek mouths and oyster beds on the tide, and in gentle current seams in depth changes at low tide.
Productive baits have ranged from paddletails to shrimp imitations and hardbaits like the MR17, but the biggest factor is warmth. If the sun is shining, your bait choice can be a little more aggressive and you can fish faster, but if it’s a dark, overcast day, try something smaller and more subtle to illicit strikes from the fish that they react more slowly. .
Topwater can still produce very well in the morning and even in the afternoon on these calm days, so be sure to throw those favorite topwater lures (Moonwalker, Skitter Walk, One Knockers) with this attractive walk-through action. to those big ones looking for big fish. for an easy meal.
If you’re out on the water and fishing a spot where you haven’t had a bite in the last 15 minutes…it’s time to move. Keep looking for the 90/10 area where these fish are found. Don’t waste time in unproductive areas. Fish move and so should you!
To get kids to grab some fish quickly, a live shrimp or GULP! under cork bursting around creek mouths and grass lines is a solid fish producer. And the best part is, you never know what you’re going to catch because everything eats shrimp… EVEN me!
If you’re planning to head out this weekend, always be sure to check (and check) your gear and the weather. But most importantly… BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!
Tallahassee local London Bush caught this beautiful Snook while visiting his dad in Crystal River over Christmas break. The fish was caught from a private dock at night. (photo by London Bush)